Charles Steuart Papers, 1762-1789.

Access and use

Location of collection:
Colonial Williamsburg
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Douglas Mayo
Phone: (757) 565-8521
Phone: (757) 565-8520
Fax: (757) 565-8528
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred citation:

Charles Steuart Papers, Manuscript DMS 55.4, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Summary

Creator:
Charles Steuart, 1725-1797.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Charles Steuart Papers, Manuscript DMS 55.4, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Background

Scope and content:

Letters, 1762-1763, between Charles Steuart (1725-1797), merchant in Norfolk, Va., and later receiver general of customs for the Eastern-Middle District of North America, and lieutenant governor Francis Fauquier (1703-1768) concerning the conditions of Don Pedro Bermudez and his party, who were attacked by English seamen while in Portsmouth, Va. Because of Don Pedro's importance as second in command of the Spanish Navy at Havana, and the diplomatic negotiations proceeding between England and Spain, this situation was a sensitive one, and Steuart's diplomatic handling of it is credited with gaining him the position of receiver general of the customs. There is also a letter, February 21, 1763, from Don Pedro's son to Steuart, and a narrative of the so-called "Spanish Affair," signed by Steuart and dated August 16, 1789.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Scotland, Steuart was sent to Virginia in 1742 as an apprentice to a Scottish tobacco factor. He was a merchant in Norfolk and Portsmouth. His diplomatic handling of a Norfolk riot led to his appointment as Receiver-General of Customs for the eastern central district and Receiver and Paymaster General of the American Board of Customs. Steuart retired to Edinburgh in 1788 and died there in 1797.

Acquisition information:
Gift, 1955.
Arrangement:

Chronologically arranged.

Physical description:
20 items.